Steam-generating apparatus



Nov. 18, 1930. E. WANAMAKER ET AL STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS amaZez;

Filed March 25. 1929 Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEj ERNEST WANAHAKEE AND LAURENCE C. BOWES, DIE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO U. S. OIL & SERVICECORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORKSTEAM-GENERATING AIEPARATUS This invention relates to improvements insteam generating apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is to type is employed inconnection with the ap- I paratus just described for augmenting theaction of the condenser 20.; and may comprise provide improved steamcondensing means absorber-generators 28, 29, positioned adjafor use inconjunction with a steam generator, whereby condensers may be used effi-'ciently on locomotives, for example.

Another object of the invention is to -provide refrigerating means foraugmenting the action of a steam condenser, which refrigerating meansmay be activated by heat of the generator, such-as heat which mightotherwise be wasted.

Other objects relate to various features of constructionand arrangmentof parts which will be apparent from the consideration of the followingspecification and accompany ing drawing, wherein The figure illustratesmore or less diagrammatically and partly in section, an installationembodying the present improvements.

In the drawing, 10 indicates a fire box, and 11 a water tube boiler inconjunction therewith. Any type of fuel may be employed for providingthe necessary heat, such as oil, or it may be pulverized coal, a su plyof which is shown at 12. In the form il ustrated, coal is fed to thepulverizer and fan 13, and is blown by the latter through tube 13 intothe fire box 10. Extending from the fire box is a conduit or pipe14.which may lead to a stack or other exhaust. The generated steampasses from the boiler 11 through a'suitable pipe 16 to an engine or, inthe form shown, a turbine 17.

The engine or turbine may be'employed for providing tractive powerdirectly, or it may operate an electric generator 18, which in turnprovides the tractive power. Exhaust steam passes through a pi e 19 to asteam condenser indicated general y by the numeral 20. having aconventional air, extractor 21. The tubes 22 of the condenser terminatein a receptacle 23 in which the water of condensation collects, andfromwhich it. is led by pipe 24 to the well 25, the water beingdelivered to the latter, if desired, by means of a pump 26. From theWell 25 the water is fed by means of the pump 27 back into the boiler11. 50 A refrigerating plant of the absorption cent the flue branches 1414", respectively, for heating purposes. The refrigerant passes frommembers 28, 29 through the pipe 30 having a check valve 31 therein, andthrough branch pipe 30 provided with check valve 31 to the condenser 32which, may be either air or water cooled, said valves preventing thereturn of the refrigerant to members 28, 29 through said pipes wheneither of the members is acting as an absorber. The condensedrefrigerant passes from the condenser 32 to the reservoir 33 from whichit passesby means of pipe 34 provided with a regulating valve 35, tobranch pipes 36 and 37, the former of which conveys the refrigerant toan evaporator 38 located in the receptacle 23, while branch pipe 37conveys refrigerant to the.

evaporator 39 which may be positioned in the oil reservoir 40' forcooling the oil of the turbine 17. The evaporator 38 augments thecondensing action of the steam condenser 20 by absorbing heat from thesteam and water of condensation. The refrigerant is returned from theevaporators 38 and 39 by means of pipes 41 and 42 and branch pipes 43.Check valves 44 and 45 are provided in the latter pipes to prevent theback flow of the refrigerant fluid from the members 28, 29' into pipe42, respectively, when either member is actin as a generator.

0 provide for the alternate operation of the members 28, 29 asgenerators and absorbers, arrangement is made for the alternate heatingand cooling of the same. The exhaust pipe branches 14, 14- are providedwith and dampers 50, 51 are operated by the bar 53, for example. In thefull line pos1t1on of the dampers 48, 49 air is admitted to the pipebranch 14 through the port 46, while damper 49 excludes heated gasesfrom said branch. The member 28 is therefore acting at 54, 55respectively. The operating mechanism 54, 55 may be electrical, such asis more fully shown and described in our copending application SerialNo. 349,7 38, filed March 25, 1929, or they may be controlled by meansresponsive to the density or other character of the refrigerant.

It will thus be seen that the refrigerating action takes placepractically continuously and that heat otherwise wasted may be utilizedas the activating energy for the apparatus.

To further augment the action of the condenser 20, water which has beencooled by the evaporator 38, or water from a different source, may beconveyed through pipe 56 to spray nozzles 57 positioned to deliver aspray of water on the tubes 22 of the condenser, the evaporation of thefinely sprayed water serving to abstract heat from the condenser tubes.

Although we have shown and described cer tain features of ourimprovements for the purpose of illustration, we do not wish to berestricted specifically thereto except as so limited by the appendedclaims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination a steam power means, a condenser for the exhaust steamtherefrom,

,and a refrigerating. apparatus activated by the heat of said powermeans and having a cooling unit associated with said condenser.

2. In combination, a steam generator, steam driven power meansassociated therewith, a condenser for condensing the exhaust steam ofsaid power means, and a refrigerating apparatus activated by heat fromsaid generator for augmenting the condensing action of said condenser.

3. In combination, a steam generator comprising a fire box and awatertub-e boiler, steam driven power means associated therewith, asteam condenser to which the exhaust steam is conveyed, a return conduitfor conveying the water of condensation back to said boiler, andrefrigerating apparatus activated by heat of the exhaust (gases of saidfire box for augmenting the co condenser.

4. In combination, a locomotive having a fire box and a water tubeboiler, a steam turensing action of said bine associated therewith, asteam condenser for condensing the exhaust steam of said turbine, andrefrigeratin apparatus activated by waste heat of said re box andprovided with a cooling unit for augmenting the condensing action ofsaid condenser.

5. In combination, a locomotive having a fire box and a water tubeboiler, a steam turbine associated therewith, a steam condenser -forcondensing the exhaust steam of said turour names.

ERNEST WANAMAKER. LAURENCE BOWES.

